Harness
Leap To Fame placing the right formline for War Dan Buddy at Wagga
A recent Group 1 placing behind champion pacer Leap To Fame looks a good form reference for War Dan Buddy at Saturday night’s Riverina Championships meeting at Wagga.
The Riverina Championships are open to four and five year-old pacers with $100,000 up for grabs in each of two divisions, one for entires and geldings and the other for mares.
The series was turned on its head with some surprise results in last week's qualifiers where an odds-on favourite was beaten in each of the four heats, two missing the final and one only just scraping in.
The one that performed best was War Dan Buddy, who was edged out by a short half head.
On that occasion War Dan Buddy began from the back row – as he does on Saturday – and travelled nicely midfield but found himself with work to do when Sanchez surged to the front and stole a margin.
War Dan Buddy had to make a sharp sprint to get into that contest and looked the likely winner early in the straight but that effort told and he just missed.
It was a performance that suggested he still has the goods to win the final and his form coming into that event certainly says the same.
War Dan Buddy had kicked off his campaign with an impressive win from the second line in the Group 3 4YO & 5YO Championship at Cranbourne in January before stepping up to the Group 1 Kilmore Cup.
His performance on that night was an eye-catcher, hitting the line hard for a 4m third to Australia's best pacer, Leap To Fame, with Kiwi topliner Republican Party only a metre in front of him.
He then went on to another feature placing in the Group 2 Light Horse Free For All over the Miracle Mile carnival at Menangle.
If War Dan Buddy produces that sort of form at Wagga he is good enough to overcome the draw and return to the winners' list.
Sinaloa was also beaten in the other heat for the boys last week but was a real eye catcher when hitting the line well to miss Sweet On Lexy by a head.
That was his third placing on the trot and the other two came behind boom mare Captains Mistress at Menangle when second in the Paleface Adios Stakes and third in the Group 1 Chariots of Fire.
He is a horse that looks to be building towards a win and he draws for a trail on the inside of the back row. With the sprint lane in play Sinaloa could be a big danger.
Sanchez continued his strong form when holding off War Dan Buddy last week. He owns good statistics both here and at the distance and should get his chance from the good draw.
Double Lou was third after working in his heat and may have to do it again from his back row draw but his form is strong having won six of his previous eight at Menangle including last season's Breeders Challenge 3CG Final.
The failure of high profile rivals Lux Aeterna and Sugar Pie Honey (second emergency) to make the final has given talented mare Gunna Reload her chance to land another feature race in the mares' final.
Gunna Reload was first up for five months when she came from the outside barrier to win her qualifier last week and the hitout should only have improved her.
The four-year-old was one of the best fillies of her generation, ending her three-year-old season with a Group 1 Breeders Challenge win having earlier landed the Gold Bracelet at Bathurst.
She'll have to come from the outside of the back row to win but she has proven herself to be versatile and is strong at the end of her races.
Smirkin Serene made an encouraging return when beaten 3m into third in her heat. She is two from two when second up so should be improved and draws for a trail. She could be dangerous.
Peace Out settled back but worked home nicely for second to Gunna Reload last week. She too goes well second-up with two wins and a placing from four attempts so progression is likely.
Boom colt Hollywood Strip can put his first defeat behind him when he tackles older rivals in the Wagga Pacers Cup.
His winning run came to an end in last week's Group 2 Gold Chalice at Bathurst but it was still a brave performance when he kept chasing for a 2m third.
He had previously won his first nine starts, two at Group 1 level including last month's NSW Derby when he overcame the widest barrier.
He has beaten older rivals before so can find his way back into the winners' list on Saturday.
Check out the latest Sydney News